The Cleveland Guardians and San Francisco Giants shocked all of Major League Baseball in May with an early-season trade involving San Francisco's starting catcher, ending one of Cleveland's top prospects' tenures with the organization.
The Guardians started a new era behind the plate with this move, acquiring Patrick Bailey, who is under team control through the 2029 season.
Now, Bailey is set to face his former team as the Giants arrive at Progressive Field on Tuesday for a three-game interleague set.
Bailey stressed on Tuesday, ahead of the series, that his time with the Giants organization will always hold a special place for him.
"It's where it all started. Like I'm incredibly grateful for um the Giants organization and the fans and the players and um I mean all the staff members that I've had there," Bailey said.
"Just so grateful for San Francisco and the and the Giants and really enjoyed my time there."
To make everything truly come full circle with this trade, Matt Wilkinson, whom Cleveland sent to San Francisco in the deal, was called up ahead of the series and could very well make his MLB debut against his former organization, too.
Wilkinson, or as he is better known by his nickname “Tugboat,” was always an intriguing pitcher in Cleveland’s organization.
The left-hander has never been known as a flamethrower, but his slider-changeup combo always had Minor League hitters left guessing. It will be fascinating to see how his arsenal translates to the big-league level.
There is a very real possibility that Bailey and Tugboat, the two players traded for one another, could face each other in a pitcher-hitter battle at some point this week, which would certainly create some must-watch at-bats.
Bailey is aware of this possibility, and said the who situation is pretty cool.
Even though Bailey is thankful looking back on his time in San Francisco, the now-Guardian and former Giants catcher said his focus is on the series ahead and on helping the team win.
Cleveland has a chance to get its season back on track, but that starts with finding a way to beat San Francisco.
"I mean, we we need to get going. We need to play better baseball," stressed Bailey.
"It's every day: show up the same way to prepare to try to win a baseball game and do everything I can to help the team. Doesn't really change even though I know a lot of these guys."